Adjustable chairs



Nov. 24, 1959 s, FLETCHER 2,914,113

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Filed Feb. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Bier 556611072 1 ZC3F Nov. 24, 1959 P. s. FLETCHER 2,914,113

' ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Filed Feb. 9, 1956 3 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Bi e? Siewarf Eel 0567 Ch forweys.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Filed Feb. 9, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

. R 511 047511 2 e Zc''? United States Patent C ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Peter Stewart 'Fietcher, Boynton Beach, Fla., assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.

Application February 9, 1956, Serial No. 564,477

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to chairs, and particularly to those which are adjustable between sitting and tilted positions. Anobject of this invention is to provide an improved and novel adjustable chair and leg rest with which the leg rest will be normally disposed beneath the seat when the chair is in sitting position, but which will be automatically placed in elevated, leg-supporting position in front'of the seat when the chair is adjusted into its tilted position, and which will be relatively simple, compact, practical, comfortable, easily operated and inexpensive.

. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of several embodiments of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a chair constructed in accordance with this invention, the section being taken just inside one side arm and extending from front to rear,

the chair being in the sitting position and having the seat and-back rest united in a single unit;

' Fig. 2 is a similar view but with the chair adjusted "into a-tilted position;

Fig. 2a is a schematic diagram illustrating some lazy tong linkage employed in the chair;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to'Fig. 3, except that the chair has been adjusted into its tilted position;

Fig. 4a is a schematic diagram illustrating the linkage employed in the chair of Figs. 3 and 4; r

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6is a view similar to Fig. 5, but with the chair adjusted into its tilted position; and

Fig. 6a is a schematic diagram illustrating the linkage j employed in the chair of Figs. 5 and 6.

In'the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.

1, 2 and 2a, the chair has a support 1 with back rest 2, side arms 3 and a seat 4, with the back rest and seat disposed between the side arms. In this example of the invention, the seat and back rest are rigidly connected so as to constitute a rigid unit. This unit, below the back --rest, is pivoted at each side by pins 5, each pin upon the upper end of an upstanding lever 6 which is pivoted on a common rod 7 carried by the support 1, such as by ex- .tending between the side arms 3 beneath the back rest and mounting the levers 6. The levers 6 can be either fixed or rockable on rod 7, as desired, and rod 7 is preferably rotatably carried by the support 1. The leg rest 8 is disposed beneath the forward margin of the seat 4, between the side arms 3, and the support 1 may have legs .9 depending from the support.

A lazy tong device at each side of the seat supports the leg rest from the support and seat jointly and is illustrated schematically in Fig. 2a. Links 10 and 11 hinged together at 12 form one pair of links at each side of the seat '4. Link 10 is hinged by pin 13 to the bottom of the seat, forwardly of the back rest. Links 14 and 15,

2,914,113 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 hinged together at 16, form another pair of links of each lazy tong device. Link 14 is hinged by pin 17 to the support 1, and links ll'and 14'cross each other intermediate 'of their ends, and where they cross they are hinged togetherby pivot pin 18. Links 19 and 20, hinged together at 21, form a third pair of links of each lazy tong device. The link 20 is hinged by pin 22 to the leg rest 8 and link 19 of that pair crosses and is hinged by pin 23 to the link 15, and at its free end is hinged by pin 24 to an end of link 11.

Links 25 and 26, hinged together at 27, form still another pair of links of each lazy tong device. The link 25 is pivoted at 28 to the leg rest above the pin 22, and the link 26 is pivoted by pin 29 toan end of link 15. The link 26 extends beyond its hinge 27, and this extension 26E is'pivoted by pin 30 to the link 20 intermediate of the ends of the latter. A control link 31 is hinged at its upper end by pin 32 to the support 1, and at its lower end is pivoted by pin 33 to the link 10 intermediate of the ends of the latter. An operating link 34 is pivoted atone end by the pin 33 to the lower end of link 31 j and to the link 11 of the firstpair. The other end of link 34 is pivoted by pin 35 to the lower end of the adjacent lever 6.

When the seat and back rest are pushed rearwardly, the levers 6 will rock on the axis of rod 7 and lower the back rest and the rear of the seat. The levers 6 actuate the link 34 to the left in Figs. 1 and 2, and this rocks links 10 and 31 clockwise in Fig. 1. The four pairs of links of each lazy tong device may be extended or contracted by moving any one of the links, and here this rocking of links 10 will cause the lazy tong devices at each side of the seat to extend and elevate the leg rest 8 to the position shown in Fig. 2, in front of and spaced from the forward edge of the seat 4. When the seat and back rest are moved forwardly, the levers 6 will elevate the back rest and rear part of the seat, and the link 34 will move link 10 in a counterclockwise direction in Figs. 1 and 2, and thus cause the lazy tong device to contract and return the leg rest8 to its position below the seat.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 4a, the support 1, back rest 2, side arms 3, seat 4, leg rest 8 and legs 9 of the support are the same as inFigs. 1 and 2, except that the seat and back rest are not united in a rigid unit, but are separate and hinged on a common rod 36 on the support 1, with the back rest depending somelhat below the rod 36. The leg L rest 8 is supported by two lazy tong devices, one at each for Figs. 1, 2 and 2a, but following the same general arrangement.

Links 37 and 38, hinged together at 39 (see Fig. 4a) form the first pair of links of each lazy tong device. Link 37 is pivotally connected by pin 49 to the bottom of the seat 4 forwardly of the rod 36. Links 41 and 42, hinged together at 43, form another pair of links of the device. Link 41 is pivoted by pin 44 to the support 1. Links 45 and 46, hinged together at 47,1'orm still another pair of links of each device. Link 45 of that pair is pivotally connected by pin 48 to the leg rest 8. Link 46 of that pair is also pivotally connected by pin 49 to an end of link 38, but has an extension 46E that is also pivotally connected by pin 53 to link 42. Links 51 and 52, hinged together at 53, form still another pair of links of each lazy tong device. Link 51 is pivotally connected by pin 54 to the leg rest 8 below the pin 48. Link 52 is pivotally connected by pin 56 to anend of link 42, and is also pivotally connected intermediate of its ends by pin 55 to an intermediate part of link 45. The link 41 extends beyond its hing 43 and its extension 41E is pivotallyconnected by pin 57 to the link 38'intera clockwise direction.

mediate of the ends of the latter. An arm 58 is secured to and depends below the back rest 2 at each side thereof, and at its lower end it is pivotally connected by pin 5910 oneend of an actuating link 60. Link 60, at its other-end, is pivotally connected by a pin' 61 to the link 37 intermediate of the ends of the latter. An upright guiding link 62 is pivoted at its upper end by pin 63 to the support 1, and at its lower end by pin 64 to the actuating link 60, intermediate of the ends of the latter.

When the back rest 2 is tilted rearwardly on the rod 36, its depending arm 58 at each side will operate the related actuating link 60, and through it rock link 37 in This causes an extension of the lazy tong device and elevation of the leg rest 8 to a position in front of and spaced from the forward margin of the seat 4-. At the same time the guiding link 62 will 'be rocked away from its upright position, so that in doing so, it will raise the end of the link 60 to which it is connected, which also raises endwise the link 37 and through it raises the forward part of the seat 4, by rocking it on the rod 36. This is shown in Fig. 4. When the back rest is tilted forwardly into the sitting position shown in Fig. l, the link 60 will be actuated in the opposite direction to return the leg rest to the Fig. 1 position and lower the seat.

If desired, an auxiliary leg rest 65 may be disposed behind the upper edge of leg rest 8 when the latter is in its Fig. 3 position. This rest 65 has a rigid bracket arm 66 which extends in a direction parallel to its legsupporting surface, and at its free end is pivoted to the pin 48 on the main leg rest 8. This rest 65 is thus hinged to the main rest 8 and extends from the upper margin of rest 8 and lies between it and the forward edge of the seat 4 when the rest 8 is elevated. A link 67 is pivotally connected at one end by pin 68 to the auxiliary rest 65 and at its other end to one of the links of the lazy tong device, such as to the link 52. When the leg rest 8 is retracted to its position below the seat, the auxiliary rest will extend rearwardly from the upper edge of rest 8.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.

5, 6 and 6a, the seat 4 and back rest 2 are a rigid unit, as in Figs. 1 and 2, and are disposed between the side members 3 on the support 1. This seat and back rest unit is pivotally connected at each side by pins 69 to links 70 which are hinged on a common rod 71 on the support 1. The links 70 are almost vertical but slightly forwardly of vertical, dead center positions, as shown in Fig. 5, when the chair is in sitting position, but when the seat and back rest unit is moved rearwardly into the tilted position shown in Fig. 6, the links 70 move into nearly horizontal positions, with the seat and back rest unit resting on rod 71 to limit farther rearward movement of the seat and back rest unit.

The leg rest 8 is normally disposed beneath the forward part of the seat 4 and is supported by four pairs of links at each side of the seat that form a lazy tong device. Links 72 and 73, hinged together at 74, form one of the pairs of links of each device. The link 72 is pivotally connected by pin 75 to the under part of the seat 4 intermediate of the front and rear limits of the seat. Links 76 and 77 which are hinged together at 78 form another pair of links of each device. One end of link 76 is pivotally connected by pin 79 to the support 1, such as to the adjacent arm rest 3. Links 80 and 81, which are hinged together at 32, form another pair of links of each device. One end of link 80 is pivotally connected by pin 83 to the leg rest 8, and an end of link 81 is pivotally connected by pin 84 to an end of link 77.

Links 85 and 86, which are hinged together at 87, form a further pair ,of links of each lazy tong device. Link 85 has an end connected by pin 88 to the leg rest -8 below the pin 83, and link 86 is pivotally connected by pin 89 to link 73. Link 73 extends beyond pin 89 4 and this extension 73:: is pivotally connected by pin 90 to link 76, intermediate of the ends of the latter. The link 76 is extended downward below its hinge 78, and this extension 76E is pivotally connected by pin 91 to the link 85 intermediate of the ends of the latter. The link 81 extends downwardly below its hinge 82 and this extension 81E is pivotally connected by pin 92 to the link 85 at a point between the leg rest and the pin 91.

An upright guide link 93 is pivotally connected at its upper end by the pin 75 to the seat 4, and at its lower end this link 93 is pivotally connected by a pin 94 to a lug 95 on a cross frame member 96 of the support 1. An actuating link 97 is pivoted at one end on the rod 71, at each side of the seat, and at its other end it is pivotally connected by a pin 98 to the link 72, intermediate of the ends of the latter. When the seat and back test unit is in the sitting position shown in Fig. 5 the leg rest will be held below the forward edge of the seat 4 by the contracted lazy tong devices at the sides of the seat. The seat will be supported by the link 93 which is then vertical, and by the common rod 71 and link 70. When the seat and back rest unit is pushed rearwardly into the position shown in Fig. 6, the back rest and the rear of the seat will be lowered by the links 70, and links 93 will guide the seat rearwardly into the tilted position. At the same time, link 97 will be held against movement by the rod 71, and as links 93 move clockwise in Fig. 5, they will rock links 72 and cause an extension of the lazy tong devices to elevate and advance the leg rest in front of and spaced from the seat, as shown in Fig. 6. When the seat and back rest unit is moved forwardly, it will cause a contraction of the lazy tong devices and a return of the leg rest 8 to its position beneath the forward edge of the seat 4.

The linkage shown in each view is duplicated at each side of the seat so as to form stable supports for the seat, back rest and the leg rest. Suitable stops, not shown, may be employed to limit the movements of the seat and back rest to the sitting and reclining positions. The function of such stops is well known and hence the stops are not illustrated.

It will be understood that various changes in the details and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable chair having its frame spacedwell above the floor by depending legs, comprising a frame, a seat and a back rest disposed in and supported by said frame and both movable on the frame between sitting and reclining positions, a leg rest disposed beneath the forward part of the seat and above the lower edge of the frame, said chair having at each side of said seat: two depending links spaced apart in a forward and rearward direction, the upper end of one of such two links being pivoted to the frame, the upper end of the other of such two links being pivoted to said seat intermediate of the front and rear edges of the seat, two other links pivoted to the lower end portion of one each of said two depending links and extending forwardly therefrom, that one of said two forwardly extending links which is connected to the rearmost said depending link being also pivoted to the said depending link in front of it, two pairs of links at each side of said leg rest with the links of each pair pivotally connected together, one link of each such pair being pivoted to said leg rest, and the other link of said two pairs being pivotally connected to said two forwardly extending links, means articulately connecting a link of one of said two pairs to a link of the other of said two pairs, and means connecting one of said seat and back rest to one of said depending and forwardly extending links and operating all of the links to elevate and advance the leg rest when the seat and back rest are moved into their reclining positions.

2. The adjustable chair set forth in claim 1 wherein the second link of one of said two pairs of pivoted together links has an extension which is pivotally connected to an intermediate part of the first link of the other of said two pairs of pivoted together links.

3. An adjustable chair as set forth in claim 2 in which the forward depending member is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of said first link of the other of said two pairs of pivoted together links rearwardly of the extension member connection, and the second link connected to the first link is pivoted to an intermediate portion of the forwardly extending link which extends between the two said depending members.

4. An adjustable chair having its frame spaced well above the floor by depending legs, comprising a frame, a seat and a back rest disposed in and supported by said frame and both movable on the frame between sitting and reclining positions, a leg rest disposed beneath the forward part of the seat and above the lower edge of the frame, said chair having at each side of said seat: two depending links spaced apart in a forward and rearward direction, the upper end of one of such two links being pivoted to the frame, the upper end of the other of such two links being pivoted to said seat intermediate of the front and rear edges of the seat, two other links pivoted to the lower end portion of one each of said first two depending links and extending forwardly therefrom, that one of said two forwardly extending 7 links which is connected to the rearmost said depending link being also pivoted to the said depending link in front of it and extending forwardly beyond it, two pairs of links at each side of said leg rest with the links of each pair pivotally connected together, one link of each such pair being pivoted to said leg rest, and the other link of said two pairs being pivotally connected to said two forwardly extending links, means articulately connecting a link of one of said two pairs to a link of the other of said two pairs, and means connecting one of said seat and back rest to one of said depending and forwardly extending links and operating all of the links to elevate and advance the leg rest when the seat and back rest are moved into their reclining positions.

5. An adjustable chair as set forth in claim 4 in which the one of said other links of said two link pairs pivoted to said forwardly extending link connecting said depending links has an extension which is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the other of said forwardly extending links, and said articulate connnecting means comprises a pivot connection between the leg rest con- 6 nected link of this pair and said other link of the remaining pair of said two pairs of connected links.

6. An adjustable chair having its frame spaced well above the floor by depending legs, comprising a frame, a seat and a back rest disposed in and supported by said frame and both movable on the frame between sitting and reclining positions, a leg rest disposed beneath the forward part of the seat and above the lower edge of the frame, said chair having at each side of said seat: two depending links spaced apart in a forward and rearward direction, the upper end of one of such two links being pivoted to the frame, the upper end of the other of such two links being pivoted to said seat intermediate of the front and rear edges of the seat, two other links, one of said two other links pivoted to the lower end portion of one of said two depending links and extending for wardly therefrom, and the second of said two other links pivoted to the lower end portion of the other of said two depending links and extending forwardly therefrom, that one of said two forwardly extending links which is connected to the rearmost said depending link crossing and being also pivoted to said depending link in front of it, two pairs of pivoted together links, the first link of each of said two pairs of pivoted together links connected to said leg rest, the second links of each of said two pairs of pivoted together links being connected to the forward ends of said forwardly extending links, one to one forwardly extending link and the other to the other forwardly extending link, the second link of one of said two pairs of pivoted together links having an extension which is pivotally connected to an intermediate part of the first link of the other of said two pairs of pivoted together links, and means connecting said back rest to one of said depending links for actuating the latter and the other links to elevate and advance the leg rest when the back rest is moved into its reclining positron.

7. An adjustable chair as set forth in claim 6 wherein the second link of the other pair of said two pairs of pivoted together links crosses and is pivotally connected at an intermediate portion to the intermediate portion of the forwardly extending link which is pivoted to the lower end portion of the forward said depending link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Luckhardt June 19, 1956 

